Bulk freight container



Oct. 24, 1939.

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BULK FREIGHT CONTAINER Filed Nov. 1, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 2 @y WL Oct.24, 1939. w. A, BEAUCHAMP y BULK FREIGHT CONTAINER y Filed Nov. l, 19374 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 24, 1939. w, A BEAUCHAMP 2,177,313

BULK FREIGHT CONTAINER Filed NOV. l, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct.24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BULK FREIGHT CONTAINER ApplicationNovember 1, 1937, Serial No. 172,065

Claims.

This invention relates to bulk freight containers.

The invention has for its objects to provide freight containers inywhich various kinds of bulk l materials may be transported by train,truck, boat and the like, which shall be sturdy in construction andweather-proof; to provide freight con- .tainers having opposed dischargeopenings formed by sloping metallic sheets which insure discharge of thematerial in the container; and to provide horizontally rotatableclosures for said discharge openings supported and readily operated by5,means located substantially at the periphery of the closures to securesimultaneous control of 1,5 the discharge openings and regulate the flowof material from the container.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the descriptionthereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the container looking at thebo-ttom of the container, parts being broken away in order to moreclearly show details of the construction.

lFigure 2 is a side elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a partial end elevation partly in section, corresponding tothe plane indicated by `section line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of lFigure 1.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 1.

35.' Figure 7 is a section taken on line I-l of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of Figure 1. l

Figure 9 is a bottom plane View of the closure.

40'- Figure 10 is a View taken on line IO--I of Figure 9.

Figure 1l is a section taken on line II-II of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings, the container I6 is shown as beingrectangular in section and embodying side wallsl I-II and end wallsI2-I2. Each of the side walls is formed of two metallic panels I3 andI4, the panel I3 being the upper panel and being provided preferablywith spaced i horizontal corrugations I5. Similarly, each of the endwalls I2 is formed of two metallic panels I6 and I 1, the panel I6 beingthe upper panel and being formed with spaced horizontal corrugations I8.

; The side and end walls extend preferably from top to bottom of thecontainer and are connected by means of vertical corner angles I9 as byriveting. The corner angles I9 also extend from top to bottom of thecontainer.

Horizontal angles 20 and 2| are secured respec- '5 `tively to the lowermargin of the side walls II and the end walls l2. These bottom anglemembers are secured additionally to the lower ends of the corner anglesI9 and at their meeting edges =are braced by means of gusset plates 22.A sturdy l0 bottom edge is thus provided for the container and thebottom angles of this construction serve additionally as a base for thecontainer.

The top of the container is provided with the usual charging port whichis closed by means of 15' the hinged closures 23 and 24, so arranged asto render the charging port weatherproof. t the top of the container andsituated at the four cor- .ners thereof are combined corner and liftingcastings 25 adapted for engagement by lifting 20 tackle in order tofacilitate handling of the container.

The bottom of the container is formed of a plurality of metallic sheetssecured respectively to the side and end walls and sloping downwardly 25from the point of securement to discharge openings formed in saidbottom. Each of the side above described, these sheets slope downwardlyfrom the side walls of the container and at their lower edges arefastened to angle members 29 ar- 40 ranged as clearly shown in Figure 5of the drawings. These angle members consequently serve to reinforce thelower margins of the side slope sheets.

The angle members 29 which lie in a horizontal 45 plane extend from thecenter of the bottom of the container to the side walls of the containerin radial lines. At the side walls each of the angles 29 is fastened bymeans of brackets 36 secured to the angles and to the side walls as byriveting. 5o At the center of the bottom of the container the angles 29are connected to an angle member 25a which extends continuously fromside wall to side Wall to which said angle member is secured by means ofbrackets 3l. This connectiton is ef- 55 fected by brackets 32 riveted tothe angle member 29a and to the respective angles 29. For the purpose ofthis connection the ends of the angles 29 are sheared to conform to theslope of the legs of angle member 29a as clearly shown in Figure 1. Theangles 29 in addition to their function as reinforcing members for thelower margins of the side slope sheets, serve in conjunction with theangle member 29a to brace the side walls of the container.

As more clearly appears in Figure 3 of the drawings, the end slopesheets 33 are transversely curved from side wall to side wall of thecontainer. An angle member '3d secured to an end wall and to an endslope sheet serves to secure each end slope sheet to an end wall of thecontainer. The angle members 34 follow the curved contour of the endslope sheets. Where the end slope sheets meet the side walls of thecontainer, anglemembers 35 are utilized to fasten these sheets to theside walls. Each edge of the end slope sheets extends downwardly towardthe center of the container, joins the shorter base of a side siepesheet and is connected thereto by an angle member disposed to overliethe adjacent margins of the end and side slope sheets. It will beobserved that the angle connections utilized 1n the securement of theside and end slope sheets to each other and to the side and end walls ofthe container satisfactorily weatherproof the bottom of the container.It will be apparent, moreover, that the disposition of the side and endslope sheets are such as to converge downwardly toward the dischargeopenings 31 formed in the [bottom of the container.

As clearly appears in Figure l of the drawings, the discharge openings31 are in opposed relationship and are defined by the lower horizontalmargins of the side slope sheets and by the lower margins of the endslope sheets. The latter are of curved contour as indicated at 38 andare reinforced by means of curved angle members 39. The angle members 39extend between the horizontal angle members 29 secured to the lowermargins of the side slope sheets and are connected therewith by means ofbrackets a. The arrangement hereinabove described provides substantiallysectoral discharge openings.

A closure member d@ is utilized to control the discharge openings 31.The closure im is substantially cylindrical and is preferably formed ofa casting. The marginal portion of the closure is channel shaped invertical section as clearly appears from Figure 2 of the drawingsthereby providing a rigid peripheral portion. The closure comprisesadditionally sectoral closure portions M separated by similarly shapedopenings t 42. At these openings the channel shaped marginal portions ofthe closure are sloped to conform to the slope of the end sheets asindicated at 42a. Reinforcing members 43 and iii disposed at rightangles to each other extend from a pocket 45 formed in the center of theclosure. The pocket i5 is adapted to receive a pin 46, the upper portionof which extends into a bearing member 136e secured to the horizontalangle member 29a. The underside of the peripheral portion of the closurecarries spaced'wedges L11 provided with stop lugs lila and in additionis formed with spaced series of teeth i8 and Q9. It is to be observedthat certain of the teeth in each series are deeper than the remainderof the teeth in said series as indicated at and 5I.

The relationship between the closure, llly and the discharge openings inthe bottom vofthe container' is clearly illustrated in Figures l, 2 and3 of the drawings The closure 40 is supported upon a plurality of spacedrollers 52- carried by the brackets 53 secured to each of the horizontalangle members 29. With reference to Figure 4 of the drawings, it will beseen that ythe rollers 52 are in vertical alignment with the wedges 41.

For the operation of the closure 4i) a plurality of pinions 54 areprovided. These pinions areV secured centrally of the container to Veachside wall by means of brackets 55. Each pinion is mounted upon a shafthaving a squared end 56 which may be reached through an opening in theside wall of the container so that a crank may be placed upon the pinionshaft;

In view of the foregoing detailed description of the invention it isbelieved that the operation of the closure 4G will be apparent. In itsclosing position the closure portions 4| will extend across the openings51 in the bottom of the container. When-it is desired to discharge thecontents of the container, a crank may be inserted through eitheropening in the side Walls and engaged with the squared end of the pinionshaft. Upon rotation of the shaft yand pinion, the closure will berotated about the pin so as to simule taneously expose the openings 31.In this position the sloped portions 52a of the closure provide acontinuation of the end sheets and the stop lugs 111a abut against therollers 52 limiting opening rotation of the closure. During the rotationof vthe closure it will be supported upon the rollers 52. Any desireddegree of opening may be obtained and by virtue of the invention anydesired amount of the contents of the 'container may be discharged andthe iiow of the contents then readily shut off. When the closure 4i) isreturned to its closing position. the rollersV 52 will engage the wedges`41 on the closure and exert a lifting force upon the closure to insuresnug engagement between the closure and the4 angle members defining thedischarge openings 31. A weather-tight condition between the closure andthe container is thus insured. Because of the greater depth of the teeth5d and 5| engagement between them and and the pinions y 54 is insuredeven though the closure is moved upwardly in its nal closing movement bythe wedges d1. Also the rollers 52 will abut against the stop lugs tolimit closing rotation of the closure.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in thedetails of the invention will be` clear to those skilled in the art. Itis intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes becomprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by thescope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A bulk material freight container having side and end Walls,comprising radially extending horizontal angle members, means securingsaid angle members to said side Walls, means securing said angle memberstogether at the center of said container, a bearing member fastened toone of said angle members, oppositely disposed curved angle membersextending between and fastened to adjacent pairs of radial anglemembers, side and end slope sheets secured to said walls and to saidangle members, said end slope sheets terminating a substantial distancefrom the center of said container and forming opposed sectoraldischarger ports in conjunction with said side slope sheets, ahorizontally rotatable closure forsaidr dischargey ports, a-centrally.located pocket provided in said closure in vertical alignment with saidbearing member and a pin disposed in said pocket and said bearingmember.

2. A bulk material freight container having side and end walls,comprising radially extending horizontal angle members, means securingsaid angle members to said side walls, means securing said angle memberstogether at the center of said container, oppositely disposed curvedangle members extending between and fastened to adjacent pairs of radialangle members, side and end slope sheets secured to said walls and tosaid angle members, said end slope sheets terminating a substantialdistance from the center of said container and forming opposed sectoraldischarge ports in conjunction with said side slope sheets, ahorizontally rotatable closure for said discharge ports and meansoperable from a side wall of said container for imparting opening andclosing rotation to said closure.

3. A bulk material freight container having side and end walls,comprising radially extending horizontal angle members, means securingsaid angle members to said side walls, means securing said angle memberstogether at the center of said container, oppositely disposed curvedangle members extending between and fastened to adjacent pairs of radialangle members, side and end slope sheets secured to said Walls and tosaid angle members, said end slope sheets terminating a substantialdistance from the center of said container and forming opposed sectoraldischarge ports in conjunction with said side slope sheets, ahorizontally rotatable closure for said discharge ports and meansoperable from a side wall of said container for imparting opening andclosing rotation to said closure, said end sheets sloping downwardlyfrom said end walls to said discharge ports and being curved betweensaid side walls.

4. A bulk material freight container comprising means dening opposedsectoral discharge ports, a horizontally rotatable closure disposedbelow said discharge ports, said closure having opposed sectoralportions separated by sectoral openings, rollers carried by saidcontainer supporting said closure at its periphery, teeth depending fromthe bottom of said closure and pinions carried by said container meshingwith said teeth, said closure having wedge members cooperating with saidrollers to force said closure tightly against said means in port closingposition, said teeth on said closure which engage said pinions in theclosed position of said closure being of increased depth.

5. A bulk material freight container having side and end wallscomprising radially extending horizontal angle members, means securingsaid angle members to said side Walls, means securing said angle memberstogether at the center of said container, oppositely disposed anglemembers extending between and fastened to adjacent pairs of radial anglemembers, side and end slope sheets secured to said walls and to saidangle members, said end slope sheets terminating a substantial distancefrom the center of said container and forming opposed sectoral dischargeports in conjunction with said side slope sheets, a horizontallyrotatable closure for said discharge ports, brackets fastened to saidradial angle members, rollers carried by said brackets for supportingsaid closure, and means operable from a side wall of said container forimparting opening and closing rotation to said closure.

WILFRED A. BEAUCHAMP.

